No.67 RAAF Pilot Course. Started ground school at RAAF Point Cook late in 1967, then flying training started with RAAF Academy Grads beginning of 1968. After completing basic we went to RAAF Pearce mid year until graduation late December same year to go our different ways. There were four RAN Midshipmen on that course. Photos to follow....
Yes No.69 was the last Winjeel/Vampire Pilot course which followed us by a few months. No.68 was the first Winjeel/Macchi course which was only about 6 weeks behind (but I could be wrong on those week numbers). Certainly it was crowded not only at Point Cook with ARMY being with us only for basic flight training but in the circuit at Pearce with instructors refaming in Macchis or instructors being instructed for their first times in the Macchi with Vamps in the mix was one hell of a riot. Then GinGin was opened only for the Macchi circuits and bumps later.
There was no graduation mass flyby for us because we were all going home ASAP (along with instructors - too close to Xmas).
After one earlier year in RAN beginning 1966 I joined BATC 2/67 beginning 1967 at HMAS Cerberus. Due to lack of places in RAAF Flying Training in that era (Vietnam War) Basic Aircrew Training Course was split in two with me in the second half going to sea aboard HMAS Anzac until joining No.67 Pilot Course etc. Earlier BATCs had gone training in the USN - we were to go also but that was scrubbed early on. Here are the early flying training badges.
CLICK 'EM:
Number 67 Pilot Course Graduation Photo December 1968 RAAF Pearce
CDTAC Lloyd Smith (first left back row) died in a Mirage IIIO crash at night in Malaysia; CDTAC "Ted" Collett died with F.O. McLean in an Iroquois crash near Canberra; F.O. Herbert died in Vietnam in a Canberra bomber. The nine younger F.O.s were from the No.17 RAAF Academy class.
Midn. Andy Perry was awarded a U.S. Silver Star in Vietnam with the RAN Iroquois detachment. All 3 Midn. went to Vietnam to the RANHFV3 EMU (Experimental Military Unit) in 1970 & were all MID (Mentioned In Despatches). Youse know where the fourth went.